Inconspicuous

Gosh, I had no idea that I would win anything with one vote! Thank you, sir! You singlehandedly got me a tag! Camel please, Shadows! Thanks for hosting this cool little competition.

Hmm, there are still lots of random accusations flying around. Jimbu seems to be asking for it, but there are plenty of irrational minds scattered throughout the sands. I'll definitely be looking up some names in the phone book tonight, in order to make a deadly call. :skull:

Jeez, we have a lot of casual accusations flying around already! I suspect things will only get more heated from here. I do agree that brickme's comments are suspicious, and of course, the nail that is JimBee will get hammered. Night will be interesting.

The Nizam are no match for a deadly assassin such as myself! As a matter of fact, the only known way to survive my attacks is to not buy a phone in the first place. And where would any man be with out his trusty phone? Let the hunt begin!

I'm dying to start playing. I can hear the deathwatches clicking in approval. Let me drink some die-t tea and let's get this chaos on the road. (Sorry for the horrible puns, I'm just a simple, phony telemarketer.)

Gee, you really freaked me out! For a second I thought you had actually gotten the set somehow. It looks pretty realistic to me, nice work recreating it. As for the set itself, it does have a nice selection of pieces, but otherwise it's below-average. If the minifig Brickmaster sets they make are this lame, I'd honestly stick with mini models. Nonetheless, great review!

Welcome to my review of the cute, little 20015 Crocodile. This set is Brickmaster promotional for May/June and I received it promptly on May 5th. I did a little research on the set, and there is some discrepancy as to what the set's name is. Brickset calls it "Alligator" while Bricklink calls it "Crocodile". If I had to choose one, crocodile sounds cooler, even though it's more realistically an alligator. Hence, I will compromise and use fallentomato's fun terminology, the "crocogator" throughout the review. Enjoy! BASIC INFORMATION: Set Name: Crocodile/Alligator Set Number: 20015 Number of Pieces: 89 Minifigs: 0 Price: N/A (promo, est. value: $6.00 USD) Theme: Creator Year Released: 2010 RESOURCES: Brickset Bricklink Flickr All pics are clickable for a larger version THE REVIEW: BAG: Front: The set comes in a very large Brickmaster polybag. The crocogator is displayed with a nice blue background, yellow stripe, and a Brickmaster logo. The set's high piece count (for a Brickmaster promo) is featured with other basic set info. Back: There's not much special on the back, except a small 1:1 scale picture of a yellow plate. You can see the pieces inside through that clear stripe. Bag:: Thoughts: Simple enough yet pleasing. Since this set wouldn't be on a store shelf, they don't need to make it flashy. INSTRUCTIONS: Front: The instruction booklet is the same size as other Brickmaster promos, and has a fold in the middle, even though it could have fit into the bag without being folded. An even simpler picture is showcased here. Random Page: This random page shows us the lovely blue background with the yellow border, a trademark of Creator sets. You can also see that since the submodels in the set are quite large, they get there own two-or-three page spread. Back: The parts inventory is on the back, with no screaming kids to be found. Alternate: As an additional bonus, alternate instructions are featured in the Brickmaster magazine itself. I don't really like the alternate frog very much, especially when compared to the crocogator. Click here for the second page. Instructions:: Thoughts: Simple and concise, just like the bag. PIECES: Large Pieces: Here are the loose pieces inside the polybag: a great selection of green, with touches of tan and brown. Seeing all these familiar pieces in green reminds me of looking at the Toy Story Army Men set for the first time. I do like the selection quite a bit, even if the color palette is limited. Small Pieces: The main polybag has one smaller bag, the contents of which are shown here. It contains a motherload of cheese slopes, especially in lime green. Also featured are the newer clips, which appear to be thicker and designed to last longer. I'm not sure how new they are, but I certainly haven't noticed them before. Pieces of interest: The more interesting pieces include a plethora of colored clips, tiles, and angled plates. There's nothing incredibly exciting, but considering it's small set, that's fine. Piece: This plate really caught my attention. When I first saw it, it looked like a new color to me. Now I'm not so sure it is, but it's certainly pretty. Pieces:: Thoughts: Not too many colors, but a good selection of types. THE BUILD: Build: The build is fairly quick. First, the main body is built and decorated, and next the tail, lower jaw, and head are added respectively. The number of large submodels is due to the flexible design, with lots of joints and moving limbs. Extras: The leftovers are standard cheese slopes, tile, and a stud. Build:: Thoughts: The submodel construction is nice, although no interesting techniques are used. COMPLETED PRODUCT: The Whole Set: And we have our completed crocogator! Isn't it purty? Back: The crocogator has nice, cheese ridges down its back and onto its tail. Although it does have a tan belly, the tan in the last tail segment jumps out at me in a negative way. Top: Here's a close-up of the lower back area. You can see that although the tail is connected, there is a large gap. If they could have pulled it off well, I would have preferred the tail to move side-to-side, like the regular Lego one. Arm: The arms and legs are attached with a surprising mechanism- a plate sandwiched between two other on one stud! This is actually an ingenious and sturdy mechanism that allows for more poseability. The gray clip is the only breaking hazard, but the new pieces stick together fine for me. Arms Moved: As you can see here, the crocogator can move his limbs very freely. Right now, he's pretending to go down an invisible Slip 'N Slide. Tail: The tail is also very flexible, and can be bent at a ridiculous angle. I'm not really sure what to think of this. It's cool but not very realistic or practical. Head: Now let's take a look at his detailed head. You can see that his eyes aren't fully sealed in, but his black pupils make the cute-o-meter go off the charts. And look at that toothy smile! He's adorable! Jaw: The upper and lower parts of his mouth are on different hinges, so poseability is limitless. Mouth: I wouldn't want to be this guy's dentist! Braces wouldn't do much, and look at how flattened his upper teeth are! And his gums are red and swollen too! But really, I think his mouth looks better only partially open. Closed: Like this! Now that's one beautiful smile. Say cheese! Wide Open: Of course, the crocogator is a natural at biting off more than he can chew! Another fun, but unrealistic function. Belly: Looking at his belly, we can see how there's consistent tan all over, including some touches of brown under his belly. Pose 1: Let's try out some wacky imitation! Here, our crocogator is posing as a venus fly trap. Pose 2: Now, he's a hinged battering ram. Or maybe he just saw a pretty lady-gator. Nom Nom: Every day... dozens of pirates are devoured by GREEN crocogators! Battle: And finally, Battle of the Creator promos! Who will win? _______________________________________________ Totals: Design: 9/10 It's very cute, but there are a few flaws, like the unclosed eye sockets and the odd tail joint. However, it's pretty darn good otherwise! Parts: 9/10 A nice selection, with rarer pieces in green and some other specialty pieces too. It's not astounding, but nothing average either. Build: 9/10 The submodel construction is nice, and the build is straightforward. However, it really lacked that "wow" factor that many sets have. Playability: 9/10 It's a single animal. On its own, there's not very much fun playability, but it can be fun when combined with other sets. It is very poseable too, even if it's unrealistic. Price: 10/10 $6 for 89 is a great deal, but of course this came as a promo anyways. Total: 46/50 Overall, a very solid and cute set. I always dreaded the Creator promos, and the Star Wars ones were the ones I really cared about. However, I was really impressed by this set, and I hope Lego continues to make sets of this caliber in the future. Bonus: Smaller Gator: "Dude, lay off the steroids." Thanks for reading! -Inky

Sign me up! I don't fear death at all. (Except for the part about dying)

3053 Emperor's Stronghold was the largest Ninja set I ever owned. The impressive, tall building was equipped with deadly traps, weapons, and warriors, and was always the center of any ninja battle. Many sections of the set are well designed, but there are some minor flubs scattered throughout. Let's take a look at this sturdy set, and see how it holds up. BASIC INFORMATION: Set Name: Emperor's Stronghold Set Number: 3053 Number of Pieces: 328 Minifigs: 4 Price: $40.00 USD (Now worth about $100 USD Used) Theme: Ninja Year Released: 1999 RESOURCES: Brickset Peeron Bricklink Flickr (Remember all pics are clickable, if you want to see anything in more detail) THE REVIEW: INSTRUCTIONS: Front: First up are the lovely and large instructions. Featured are some dangerous looking mountains and a reddish-orange background, with some flying Ninjas in the foreground. The picture isn't overly flashy, but still makes the set have some action and look appealing. Minifig Page: The inside is oriented differently than the outside. Small submodels and minifigs are built first, separated by cool bamboo dividers. Random Page: Smaller submodels get their own boxes, but piece call-outs are non-existent. Note the subtle but pretty changes in the background color. Back: The instructions end on the back cover, with no parts inventory, ads, or even a Win logo. Instructions:: Thoughts: Simple, straightforward, and easy to follow. Nothing to complain about here. PIECES: Tan Pieces: One of the set's major colors is tan. The tan pieces in the set are all mostly basic bricks, with a few 1x3 plates and round bricks. There are also a few wavy bricks and wall pieces thrown in. Black Pieces: The other major color of the set is black. The black pieces are much more varied, and include bricks, large plates, and plenty of specialized pieces. My favorite specials are the wavy wall panels and the mini ladders. Remaining Pieces: The rest of the pieces are mostly blue, gray, and brown. There are lots of headlight bricks and delicious blue roofing. Large Pieces: There are also a handful of large pieces: a large brown baseplate, two LURPs, and two rare printed wall slopes. Pieces of interest: Here are the more interesting pieces of the bunch, including many accessories, like the swords, treasure, and cannon. There are also some nice printed parts like the two types of flags and the horse-cover. Pieces:: Thoughts: A very decent selection of colors and types, with cool accessories and printed parts. MINIFIGS: Front: The set includes two red ninjas, the rare white ninja princess, and a shogun. The printing is lovely on both their torsos and the shogun's legs. I also like the golden decoration on the shogun's helmet. Back: The headwraps have sword-holders on the backs, but apart from that, they have no back printing. Uncovered: With all the gear removed you can get a look at their faces and other hidden printing. The red ninjas are identical, but the white ninja has her own beautiful face. The shogun also has a stern face, in addition to the torso printing hidden by his armor. Minifigs:: Thoughts: Sweet printing and detailing on these guys! Not much to complain about here. THE BUILD: Build: The build takes 44 steps, although the last two are only adding in accessories. They are pictured here at 7 step intervals. The process is smooth and simple. There are no interesting techniques used, but the set is sturdy throughout the process. There are some nice, irregular patterns or architecture built in, so things are mixed up frequently. Build:: Thoughts: Relatively entertaining and sturdy all the way up. COMPLETED PRODUCT: The Whole Set: And we have our completed set! The set is mainly one sturdy building, with lots of little trinkets around it. Let's take a look at the trinkets first. Horse: The first trinket is the Shogun's horse. It utilizes the neat printed covering, and includes the classic white brick and plate for removing the saddle. Also clipped on is one of the plastic flags. Glider: Another trinket is the white ninja's flyer. It's incredibly simple, but accomplishes its goal and adds playability. The orange wing pieces are gorgeous! Chest: The final trinket is the red ninjas' treasure. They both grab one end, and store the swords on the rack. The sword storage is clever and efficient. And to top it off, they each have a spear in the barrel behind them, in addition to their swords. Open: The treasure chest opens, revealing coins and a jewel. Again, more playability options. Building: Let's take a look at the stronghold itself. The tan, black, and blue color scheme really jumps out at me. You can see the lovely stone decorations at the base. As you go up the building, you can see some weird details and windows. They look incoherent to me, although they are symmetrical. Towards the top, things get better again, with some nice blue roofing and architecture. Doors: The doorway is one of the more detailed parts. The doors have lovely printed flags, and some ladder detailing. There are a few incoherent studs, which bother me. Side: The sides each feature lovely printed rocks and black stone decorations. The grappling hooks can hook onto these easily, allowing ninjas to ride down the building. Back: Let's take a look at the backside. You can see that the temple has six main areas- two alcoves to the right and left, an entryway, second and third levels, and a roof. There's quite a bit of space to play in, and the color scheme is still pleasing to the eye from this view. Alcove: The alcoves are pretty nifty and would make good stables for horses. There's quite a bit of space, due to the hollow LURP and wall panel. Jump: The black plank can serve as a step for ninjas to leap over the wall! Even more playability options. 2nd Floor: The second level features a trapdoor with two rocks on it. Pulling the pin sends them into the entryway! Also note the windows- they can be opened and closed by moving a flap on the outside. Entryway: The rocks are poised pretty close to the center, so no matter which door the ninja enters from, they'll get pummeled! Dropped: However, although the trapdoor is centered, it falls at an angle, so the rocks generally go to the right side. 3rd Floor: The third level is a tiny cannon area. The cannon in my set is non-firing, so this room has no purpose, but if the set had a firing cannon, you would need to pull the cannon here. Side: The side features some interesting designs, like the jail pieces, ladders, and headlight bricks. I always thought it looked a bit sloppy. Roof: Here's another view of the side designs. There's an abundance of headlight bricks so the grappling hook can have a lot of places to attach. The roof area can be used to start the zip-line, or it can be a launching pad for the white ninja and her glider. Interestingly, the plastic flag only appears on one side. Playability: And the battle has begun! Two red ninjas turn on each other, and use the zip-line for an ambush! The white ninja attacks the shogun, with the help of some sewing thread. More Playability: Another action shot, where the white ninja has crashed, and the red ninjas have stopped fighting. Note that I've used the treasure chest as a base for the zip-line, another use for it. I never really figured out who was fighting who. The shogun seems to be attacking the stronghold, but yet his flag matches the one already on it. And who are the red ninjas really working for? The ninja theme never had specific stories, so you could make them up. _______________________________________________ Totals: Design: 8/10 The set is very sturdy, and most parts are incredibly pleasing to the eye. However, there are some odd bits and colors that don't fit in, which bring the design score down a few points. Parts: 10/10 A very good selection with plenty of colors and accessories. I'm a big fan of the blue roofing. Build: 9/10 Overall a fun process, and decently long, but the string tying is quite annoying when assembling the zip-line. Minifigs: 9/10 The ones that are included are very satisfactory, it's what's not included that's the problem. For one, there's no Emperor in the Emperor's Stronghold. Second, four minifigs for a $40 isn't great, especially considering that a $12 set, Shanghai Surprise, already has three of the four included. However, the exclusive ninja princess is a wonderful addition. Playability: 10/10 One of the high points of the set. There's lots of accessories, rooms, and traps. Plus the minifigs' factions are interchangeable, so creativity can be expressed. Price: 8/10 328 for $40 isn't great, but considering the large pieces and baseplate, it's not too bad. By today's price, this is really only for collectors and more serious hobbyists. Total: 54/60 A solid set that shines in the playability and parts categories. At today's price, it's a collector's item, but if you can get your hands on one, I think you'll enjoy it. I'm very fortunate to have one, and I think there are good reasons why this set is worth so much. Bonus: Persia versus Asia. Prince versus Shogun. Square katana versus octagonal katana. Printed horse versus covered horse. Who will triumph? Thanks for reading! -Inky

Slighter better picture, from the new magazine. I'm excited that they're finally including a minifig, but I wish they could have put in a less common one. However, it does looks fairly nice, and Lego could be heading this direction more in the future.

I noticed this too! I'm going to pick up a Battle of Alamut for $60 later this afternoon.

I agree with what's been said. I LOVED the two episodes, particularly the last one, but I didn't like the holes like Jango's helmet and the Slave I. These holes don't bother me so much, but I really wish they weren't there. I liked some of the ending sequences with Boba and Aurra quite a lot, they did a good job with the characters. Season 3 looks promising.

Dastan: "How's my ostrich replacement? I was too uncomfortable on that old one." Tamina: "Dastan, you idiot! I said 'grin and bear it', not 'grin and parrot'!" _____________________ Prince of Persia 4: The Budget Cuts Strike Back

I agree, Captain Zuloo, he really deserves more credit for his awesome work! The NNN series is well-animated and funny, and I find myself showing them to my friends when I'm bored. I really like this cutscene, I think it really reinforces the plot point of Malifios joining the NNN. I just can't get enough of your work! How much is that DVD going to be?

My Prince of Persia character is... the Telemarketer Hassasin! The Telemarketer Hassasin burns fear into the hearts of his victims. He strikes when and where you least expect it (like dinner time), and is always on the move, because his satellite dish can get reception all throughout the deserts of Persia. He utilizes tactics so cunning and deadly, you may find yourself tricked into buying camel insurance, even when the only animal you have is the scorpion living under your bathtub. (Of course, the idea was eventually cut from the movie, since they thought he was too scary for younger teenage audiences.)

Grrrr! Killed after one day! I know it's just a game, but I never got to experience the warm fuzzy feeling of getting rid of an insane. Ah well, there's always next time. Thanks for letting me play, JimBee and Ricecracker, and good luck to the rest of you!

Hi everyone, I lead a small, family-run Bricklink store called Vic's Bricks. I don't have very much in the store, but when I do have something significant, I'm going to offer it here, to the Eurobricks community, before I put it in my store. In addition, my prices here will most likely be cheaper! I'm willing to ship internationally, but I would prefer to ship within the US. Also, I'd prefer to receive payment in money, but I'll take trade offers too. If you have questions, feel free to ask! Current Items for Sale: (More pictures can be found here) 1) 7141 Naboo Fighter (Sealed in bags but no box)- $40.00 USD 2) 7150 TIE Fighter & Y-wing (Sealed in bags but no box)- $60.00 USD 3) 20012 Click (MISB)- $6.95 USD 4) 21002 Empire State Building (MISB)- $24.95 USD 5) 21005 Fallingwater (MISB)- $99.95 USD 6) Pirates Minfigures (Used, good condition)- $4.00 USD each 7) Harry Potter Minifigures (Used, good condition) Harry Potter (hp005)- $3.00 Ron Weasley (hp007)- $3.50, 4 available Hermione Granger (hp002)- $6.00, 2 available Blue Cape Harry (hp036)- $4.00 Quidditch Harry (hp019)- $5.00 Sorting Hat Harry (hp035)- $4.00 Professor Quirrell (hp011)- $15.00 Lucius Malfoy (hp018)- $5.00 Draco Malfoy (hp037)- $4.50 Professor Trelawney (hp049)- $36.00 Peeves (hp010)- $4.00 PoA Snape (hp050)- $6.00 Wormtail/Pettigrew (hp048) -$16.00 Fleshie Harry (hp056a) -$10.00 Fleshie Hermione (hp063)- $16.00 Regular Clothes Harry (hp041)- $10.00 Professor Lupin (hp042)- $25.00 Rubeus Hagrid (hp061)- $9.00 Sirius Black (hp045)- $18.00 8) Star Wars Minifigs (Used, good condition) AT-ST Driver (sw093)- $6.00 Grand Moff Tarkin (sw157)- $8.50 Rebel Scout Trooper (sw187) and variation- $4.00 Clone Pilot (sw118, on the left) - $5.00 Clone Pilot, Open Helmet (sw266, on the right)- $6.00 C-3PO (sw365)- $6.00 Count Dooku (sw060)- $15.00 Yoda (sw051)- $16.00 Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ep. II (sw055a)- $11.00 Wookiee Warrior (sw132)- $12.00, 2 available Battle Droid- free with purchase of both Wookiees Luke Skywalker, Tatooine (sw021)- $6.00 Ben Kenobi (sw023, tan hips)- $6.00 Han Solo, Tatooine (sw015)- $4.50 Stormtrooper (sw036)- $6.00 Lobot (sw049)- $6.00 Scout Trooper (sw005)- $4.50 Paploo (Tan, sw067) - $6.00 Wicket (Brown, sw050)- $6.00 Naboo Security Officer (sw022)- $5.00 Headless Lobot (sw049)- $3.00 9) Castle Minifigs (Used, good condition) $3.50 each or $16.00 for all five. $3.25 each or $15.00 for all 5. $3.25 each or $11.00 for all four. $2.50 per minifig or all four for $8.50. $3.50 each or $15 for all 5. Thanks for looking! -Inconspicuous

Likewise, a +1 for Shadows. Glad to do business!

Just tell us you'd like to join (which you kind of already have), one of our Admins will give you access to our hidden forum, and you're in! Once you're in, read the pinned threads, ask us any questions you need, and you're all set to get started. I look forward to seeing you inside. Inky

Oh, I totally agree. It's just he seems to be going over-the-top with his speeches, almost like he's trying to act really sane. I'm not saying whether that's hiding something or just proving his loyalty, but it does seem a little bit odd. On the first day, there's not much evidence, but the least we can do is toss around ideas and see if we get any weird reactions or comments. I'm sorry if I offended you or Drake, I was merely exploring a possibility.

I would think that they would want to seem quite sane. That way the sanes who act a little crazy would come across badly, and would be more likely to draw suspicion. And as much as I don't like to point fingers, that would make Mr. Monologue Drake over there a prime target, especially considering many of us are still into the "one of the Coast Guards is insane" theory. However, at this point nothing is proven. Hopefully night may reveal a few answers.

Thanks for the informative review, BobaFett2. This set itself is very nice, and agree that the color scheme is really good. However, please, please, please resize your images! 3000x4000 is just absolutely ridiculous, and many people have slower connections won't be able to see your review. If you're interested and reviewing and would like a great chance to improve your skills (which you seem to be), I think you may benefit from joining the Reviewers Academy. It's a lot of work, but definitely worth the result.

Yes, it always hard to find any legitimate evidence this early into our time here. Unless anyone can find small slips in what everyone has said, it may be best to go without a conviction in order to avoid blindly killing an innocent. Perhaps more can be learned at night. Anyone with me here? Or are we going to vote someone randomly for the sake of having a conviction?

Ahh, yes, I was a big Survivor fan in my youth. I think the major difference between that and our current situation is that on Survivor, they're playing for a million dollars, whereas here, we're playing this "game" for our own lives! Although I agree, why would the insanes take some sane people here too? Why not just go directly? Something definitely feels off...

My, what a terrible way to start our time here! One of us few survivors murdered and our rescue team's crash are certainly not good signs. It's clear that there are insane people among us- they must have done something to tamper with the plane. But what's even more interesting is that the Coast Guard plane suffered a similar fate, which leads me to believe that perhaps an insane person tampered with their rescue plane beforehand, knowing that the plane would be sent after they tampered and crashed our flight. Respectable Coast Guard members, are you alright? Did you notice anything unusual before, during the flight, or during the crash landing?